anyone else despite being the H&S manager - not invidted to be involved in your companies COVID-19 response meetings

[TWDB]

Morning all,

I hope all are keeping safe in these difficult time, and my following message is by no means more important than the pandemic taking place.

but as a H&S manager I would expect to be at least listening in to my companies now daily COVID-19 management team meeting, but I've not been invited or included

which I think is crazy.

I know that the management team have the pressure for sustaining the business in terms of finance but still feel aggrieved that I'm not included in this call?

any thoughts ? or tips

Thanks
T

[ddlh]

Sounds poor - but may have been an accidental oversight. Have you asked the why you are not included in the discussions?

Dave

[grim72]

Probably concerned you might shut them down on welfare grounds if they run out of soap or bog roll? Seriously though I'd expect H&S to be included in these - the clue is in the job title.

[witsd]

Business continuity should always be strongly linked with health and safety, but all to often they go their separate ways.

Have you any concerns about the approach they are taking, or is it just that you have been excluded? If just the latter, I'd probably just roll my eyes and let it pass, but if you have actual concerns, then make a fuss the same way you should if any H&S issue was being ignored.

[Waterbaby]

Sounds poor - but may have been an accidental oversight. Have you asked the why you are not included in the discussions?

Dave

Agree with Dave's comment

WB

[ShaneJ]

Our organisation is having daily VC meetings with parent company and other Business Units too, and I don't attend them.

There are 3 people in there from our BU - Ops Director, HR and MD. With plenty of other BUs ringing in with similar people, and the head office taking professional direction, I don't know what I could possibly offer, as I only know what the news is telling me.

We have a BU Ops meeting in the morning (reduced numbers now or ringing in), before the Group VC, where we can discuss COVID-19 issues, staff concerns, etc. We are then briefed on the points raised in the VC, as well as any directives we need to implement.

I guess each organisation is different but mine is taking it pretty seriously so I'm happy to be informed.

[stretch3144]

IN the same boat. But funny how the Board wants me to implement their decisions after their meetings.
Yesterday, for example, they decided to reduce the amount of visitors to site - which is a sensible precaution, but they have also asked me to cancel our occupational health adviser visits - a decision I am against.

[Andyblue]

Appreciate the idea of the H&S advisor having visit cancelled, but being fair. What is there that they have to do during a visit that could not, at least for a while, be achieved by phone/ Skype. Would their visit really add weight or extra information. Asked out of interest rather than a negative observation.

[stretch3144]

Hi andyblue.
Fair point. I do have a lot of new starters for initial medicals and a backlog of current employees for refreshers. My manager has agreed that when she comes back we will do a few days a week to catch up.

[MSpurling]

I am my companies main information point and representative on the COVID-19 response.

[TWDB]

Sounds poor - but may have been an accidental oversight. Have you asked the why you are not included in the discussions?

Dave

It is poor I feel, not an oversight - management team just being their normal poor selves -

our parent company is providing communications from North America but as they are behind where UK is can be little bit behind what we need and UK stance, which I don't see all of these , and then only when the top boos want me to send out - and not always me that does this.
Senior management don't get I can help with coordinating comms etc - I'm sure they have business pressure that they should be looking at caused by virus.

I've sent info etc that I have to SHEQ leaders in parent company and been thanked . but then questioned by my own bosses for sending out the comms I've been asked to send by parent company and MD. i.e. signage at our offices etc. - can't win. perhaps better not involved as they obviously know best as always

Again I appreciate its very difficult for all especially company bosses but I feel I can help and assist with getting info out there and filter incorrect info etc.

disappointing but not surprised - stay safe out there all. good luck

[Messy]

OK I think I can beat not having H&S attending!

My employers have set up a special crisis group of 35 staff to run the CV-19 response from a strategic and tactical point of view. However, nobody - not one person from the well established business continuity unit is included!!!

So around 60+ years of in house incident management experience developed from scores of past incidents and the fact that many are professional & accredited business continuity experts - all lost, all ignored. Some are former blue light Principle Incident Management specialists. The result is the newly convened team of (virgin) incident management members are running around like headless chickens bumping into each other like a Buster Keaton movie (anyone under 30 years old may have to Google Keaton)

The rationale for this carnival from the top brass is that CV-19 will be with us for months or longer, so the new CV team will be a separate and stand alone function to allow existing the BC team to concentrate on the usual and expected planning & events. Absolute nonsense

Its going to fail (and is already failing) of course, as its a bit like having employing a team of SAS soldiers, but ordering Pike, Mainwaring and the Dad's Army crew in to fight a battle with the enemy - whilst the SAS guys drink tea and play sudoku -crazy

Moan over